Jeter's swan song one for the ages

"This is all I've ever wanted to do, and not too many people get the opportunity to do it," Jeter said that evening. "It was above and beyond anything that I've ever dreamt of. I've lived a dream since I was 4 or 5 years old, and part of that dream is over now."

Jeter's exit was one of the most prominent and unforgettable storylines of the 2014 season. The journey began on the morning of Feb. 12, when Jeter gave approval to a lengthy Facebook post that he had spent the previous evening crafting; by clicking the "Post" button, the countdown was officially on.

"I didn't want to be forced to retire due to injury," said Jeter, whose 2013 season ended after a Sept. 7 broken ankle. "The organization gave me a chance to come back and play one final year. I get the fact that not everyone has an opportunity. You can only do this job for so long, I don't care who you are. The shot clock runs out. I'm happy that I was able to have this one last year."

As with Mariano Rivera in 2013, Jeter was lauded at each of the Yanks' road stops, graciously accepting gifts in pregame ceremonies that he never seemed completely comfortable attending. As he'd later remark, it almost felt like being a guest at his own funeral, but he tried to enjoy the kind words as much as possible.

Jeter savored his 14th and final All-Star Game selection and was touched by the Derek Jeter Day ceremonies in early September. But he detested the term "farewell tour," believing that it implied that his presence in the lineup was more important than the goal of winning games.

Like any treasured book, the ending might have been the best part of the tale. That night of Sept. 25 saw Jeter -- that cool and unflappable king of New York's back pages for two decades -- emotionally wrecked.

He lost a batting glove, forgot to strap on his elbow guard and retreated to the dugout bathroom often to hide his tears. At one point, he felt like a scared Little Leaguer, hoping that the ball wouldn't be hit to him.

2 Witness An Icon: A Bronx end

Torre on Jeter's unforgettable final home game

Joe Torre talks about the emotional and unforgettable final home game for the Captain on MLB Network's "Derek Jeter: 2 Witness An Icon"

"I don't know if the cameras were on me close, but there were a couple times I almost broke down," Jeter said. "I was almost thinking to myself, 'Get me out of here before I do something to cost us this game.' It's funny how things change, I guess."

It took a special set of circumstances to even engineer Jeter's Hollywood exit. Closer David Robertson coughed up a late three-run lead to the Orioles, so Jeter was nudged up for one more Stadium at-bat, trailed by the last airing of the late public address announcer Bob Sheppard's voice.

"Now batting for the Yankees, No. 2, Derek Jeter, No. 2."

With his parents, Charles and Dorothy, watching from the first row behind home plate, Jeter flicked his wrists at an Evan Meek fastball, sending pinch-runner Antoan Richardson home with the winning run.

"You think about all the big hits that he's had in his career, and all the things that he's done to help this club win championships and divisions," manager Joe Girardi said. "He's been here since the run that started in '96. I don't think there's a more fitting way for it to end."

Out of respect for the Red Sox and their fans, Jeter took four more at-bats as the designated hitter that weekend at Fenway Park, legging out a run-scoring infield single in his last at-bat -- a high chopper to third baseman Garin Cecchini that wrapped his career with 3,465 hits, sixth all time and the most ever by a Yankee.

Jeter requested a pinch-runner, his numbers frozen with a lifetime .310 average to go along with his five World Series rings. The franchise leader in games played (2,747), at-bats (11,195), runs, doubles (544), and stolen bases (358), Jeter's next stops will be in Monument Park and Cooperstown.

"I've had a blast," Jeter said. "Listen, I got an opportunity to do what I wanted to do -- the only thing that I ever wanted to do. I know that not a lot of people can say that. I've been fortunate, but I've had fun. There isn't a thing that I would change."

The "Core Four" is gone now, and even more incredibly, just four players remain from the Yankees' most recent World Series championship in 2009. With that period of transition well underway, Jeter's advice to envisioned successor Didi Gregorius is to appreciate the job as much as he always did.

"For me, I'm happy being known as a Yankee," Jeter said. "That's the only thing I've ever wanted to be, was the shortstop of the New York Yankees, and I had an opportunity to do that for 20 years. Being remembered as a Yankee is good enough for me."

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Former NY governor Cuomo dies at 82, played in Minors

Mario Cuomo, the former governor of New York and an avid baseball fan, passed away on Thursday at the age of 82.

Cuomo was also a ballplayer, seeing time in 81 games with the Class-D Minor League Brunswick Pirates during the 1952 season.

A 20-year-old center fielder with the club, Cuomo hit .244 with a total of 62 hits, including one home run and 10 doubles.

Cuomo served as governor of New York from 1983 to 1994 and became known nationally for his ability to share his story of humble beginnings as a son of Italian immigrants.

While Cuomo dreamed of one day playing in the Majors, he knew it was a near impossible feat.

"I've gotten some things done [in my life]," Cuomo told MLB.com in 2007. "But I never thought of myself as a Major Leaguer, or good enough to be one. The first good player I watched as a kid was Joe DiMaggio, and that was like ballet. Since then, I played sandlot and college ball and came to understand how difficult it can be.

"Then you get some madman in the Minors throwing the ball 100 miles an hour and not knowing where it's going to wind up. And on one occasion it wound up in the back of my head. So, it didn't occur to me to ever be that good [in baseball]. God had other plans for me."

Quinn Roberts is a reporter for MLB.com This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Inbox: Will the Yankees look to bolster rotation?

There are legitimate questions about all three of the pitchers you mentioned, and though the additions of Nathan Eovaldi and Chris Capuano give the Yankees a five-man rotation that they'd feel comfortable going forward with (while keeping the light on for Ivan Nova's expected summer return), there is also a sense that the Yankees are not done adding just yet. I would expect to see a few more names in that mix come Feb. 20.

If Tanaka is able to be who he was for the first 17 starts last season and if Pineda looks like he did when he was actually on the mound, they could be in good shape, especially if Sabathia can bounce back from surgery and give them the 30-32 starts that he's talked about. Now, realize that those are three pretty big "if" scenarios, and it's easy to come up with counter-arguments of why it might not work out.

Click here to submit an Inbox question.

Thus far, the Yankees have been adamant that they have no interest in adding another nine-figure salary to the books, resisting the outside cries to get involved with the chases for top free agents like Max Scherzer and James Shields.

Eovaldi gives them a young, hard thrower with a good amount of strike-throwing ability and Capuano provides a positive influence with a high pitching IQ, so it's a good start to round out the back end. The Yankees had 13 different guys make starts for them last season; you can't really ever completely prepare for injury problems like that, but you can certainly try.

Since Hiroki Kuroda and Derek Jeter are no longer on the payroll, wouldn't that clear space for signing Scherzer?
-- Jose C., Utuado, P.R.

Not necessarily. Kuroda and Jeter accounted for $28 million of last year's payroll, but most of that sizable chunk was immediately swallowed up when Alex Rodriguez's $22 million salary for 2015 came back on the books.

Some initially believed the recent Marlins trade was an indication that the Yanks were freeing up money for a Scherzer push, but general manager Brian Cashman called it "almost a wash" in terms of saving money because the Yanks ate $6 million of Martin Prado's salary while taking on $5 million with Garrett Jones. They also spent $5 million on Capuano.

There are those in the game who remain skeptical that the Yankees will truly resist the Scherzer sweepstakes. No matter what, it appears the Yankees will be have a payroll over $200 million again -- a number that managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner has said that teams shouldn't have to exceed in order to win a World Series.

Any chance the Yankees go after a closer and give Dellin Betances another year to develop?
-- John Y., Commack, N.Y.

They were linked to Sergio Romo before he re-signed with the Giants, but those talks never seemed very serious. Yankees people are very comfortable with the idea that their next closer is already on this roster. Between Andrew Miller and Betances, they could have a dominant left-right combination that is capable of getting outs, no matter which inning they're deployed in. Spring Training will guide the ultimate decision.

Do the Yankees have any intention of trying to trade for Troy Tulowitzki? I understand he has two bad hips and is owed a lot of money but a healthy Tulo could boost the Yankees' lineup.
-- Jon R., Brooklyn

There were reports that the Yankees checked in with the Rockies about Tulowitzki recently, but I've been told there was not much substance to those discussions. In theory, the Rockies would have to eat a significant portion of the $118 million Tulowitzki is owed, and you'd at least like to see Tulo resume baseball activities before parting with talented prospects and assuming an investment of that size.

Could those talks be revisited in Spring Training? Perhaps, stranger things have happened, and who better to import than a guy who actually wears Jeter's "Driven" cologne? But the Yanks are looking forward to seeing Didi Gregorius grow into the shortstop position, and as of now that has been locked in as the plan.

Who will be the backup catcher?
-- Todd C., Staten Island, N.Y.

The Yanks are high on John Ryan Murphy, who seemed to leapfrog Austin Romine on the depth chart last season and showed veteran savvy in handling the pitching staff. Romine will be out of Minor League options, so he'll either win the job from Murphy or be cut loose.

Gary Sanchez, the Yanks' No. 2 prospect according to MLB.com, will also be in camp. He is expected to begin the season at Triple-A, but Sanchez could see time in the Majors this year.

Which everyday player do you see being the leader of this team now that Jeter is retired?
-- Jonathan V., Staten Island, N.Y.

I believe you're going to see Brian McCann step into more of a leadership role over the next few seasons, but he won't be alone. It has been suggested that guys might have tried to stay in the background last year out of deference to Jeter, so even though the Yanks won't have an official captain, you may hear and read about several players being more actively vocal.

Carlos Beltran and Mark Teixeira are both well-respected in that room, and Brett Gardner has grown into more of a team spokesman in recent seasons. Before his suspension, Rodriguez was also a strong influence on some of the younger players and it will be intriguing to see how he re-assimilates into the mix.

Which pitchers in the Yankees' farm system have the best chance of being in the big leagues in 2015?
-- David K., Washington, D.C.

In no particular order, I would keep an eye on Jacob Lindgren, Nick Rumbelow and Tyler Webb to try and make the jump after their impressive 2014 seasons. A couple of other names to keep eyes on are Danny Burawa and Branden Pinder, both of whom were added to the 40-man roster in November.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Jeter's swan song one for the ages

"This is all I've ever wanted to do, and not too many people get the opportunity to do it," Jeter said that evening. "It was above and beyond anything that I've ever dreamt of. I've lived a dream since I was 4 or 5 years old, and part of that dream is over now."

Jeter's exit was one of the most prominent and unforgettable storylines of the 2014 season. The journey began on the morning of Feb. 12, when Jeter gave approval to a lengthy Facebook post that he had spent the previous evening crafting; by clicking the "Post" button, the countdown was officially on.

"I didn't want to be forced to retire due to injury," said Jeter, whose 2013 season ended after a Sept. 7 broken ankle. "The organization gave me a chance to come back and play one final year. I get the fact that not everyone has an opportunity. You can only do this job for so long, I don't care who you are. The shot clock runs out. I'm happy that I was able to have this one last year."

As with Mariano Rivera in 2013, Jeter was lauded at each of the Yanks' road stops, graciously accepting gifts in pregame ceremonies that he never seemed completely comfortable attending. As he'd later remark, it almost felt like being a guest at his own funeral, but he tried to enjoy the kind words as much as possible.

Jeter savored his 14th and final All-Star Game selection and was touched by the Derek Jeter Day ceremonies in early September. But he detested the term "farewell tour," believing that it implied that his presence in the lineup was more important than the goal of winning games.

Like any treasured book, the ending might have been the best part of the tale. That night of Sept. 25 saw Jeter -- that cool and unflappable king of New York's back pages for two decades -- emotionally wrecked.

He lost a batting glove, forgot to strap on his elbow guard and retreated to the dugout bathroom often to hide his tears. At one point, he felt like a scared Little Leaguer, hoping that the ball wouldn't be hit to him.

2 Witness An Icon: A Bronx end

Torre on Jeter's unforgettable final home game

Joe Torre talks about the emotional and unforgettable final home game for the Captain on MLB Network's "Derek Jeter: 2 Witness An Icon"

"I don't know if the cameras were on me close, but there were a couple times I almost broke down," Jeter said. "I was almost thinking to myself, 'Get me out of here before I do something to cost us this game.' It's funny how things change, I guess."

It took a special set of circumstances to even engineer Jeter's Hollywood exit. Closer David Robertson coughed up a late three-run lead to the Orioles, so Jeter was nudged up for one more Stadium at-bat, trailed by the last airing of the late public address announcer Bob Sheppard's voice.

"Now batting for the Yankees, No. 2, Derek Jeter, No. 2."

With his parents, Charles and Dorothy, watching from the first row behind home plate, Jeter flicked his wrists at an Evan Meek fastball, sending pinch-runner Antoan Richardson home with the winning run.

"You think about all the big hits that he's had in his career, and all the things that he's done to help this club win championships and divisions," manager Joe Girardi said. "He's been here since the run that started in '96. I don't think there's a more fitting way for it to end."

Out of respect for the Red Sox and their fans, Jeter took four more at-bats as the designated hitter that weekend at Fenway Park, legging out a run-scoring infield single in his last at-bat -- a high chopper to third baseman Garin Cecchini that wrapped his career with 3,465 hits, sixth all time and the most ever by a Yankee.

Jeter requested a pinch-runner, his numbers frozen with a lifetime .310 average to go along with his five World Series rings. The franchise leader in games played (2,747), at-bats (11,195), runs, doubles (544), and stolen bases (358), Jeter's next stops will be in Monument Park and Cooperstown.

"I've had a blast," Jeter said. "Listen, I got an opportunity to do what I wanted to do -- the only thing that I ever wanted to do. I know that not a lot of people can say that. I've been fortunate, but I've had fun. There isn't a thing that I would change."

The "Core Four" is gone now, and even more incredibly, just four players remain from the Yankees' most recent World Series championship in 2009. With that period of transition well underway, Jeter's advice to envisioned successor Didi Gregorius is to appreciate the job as much as he always did.

"For me, I'm happy being known as a Yankee," Jeter said. "That's the only thing I've ever wanted to be, was the shortstop of the New York Yankees, and I had an opportunity to do that for 20 years. Being remembered as a Yankee is good enough for me."

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Gossage still savors memory of Hall of Fame's call

"There had been some urgency when I first became eligible," Gossage said. "After I got out of baseball and people started to talk about the Hall of Fame, my mom said, 'I hope I'm still around if you do go into the Hall of Fame.'"

Susanne Gossage died two years prior to her son's 2008 induction in Cooperstown.

She'd been his strength ever since his father, Jack, passed away during Rich Gossage's junior year in high school.

"She was my biggest fan," he said, "and during those early years, there was some frustration.

"When she died there wasn't that sense of urgency. It was more about waiting for the opportunity. Baseball taught me not to worry about what I couldn't control. I didn't have a vote, so I had no control."

And when that call finally came?

"Well, the plan was to have a quiet day at home," he said. "But the next thing I know there's different people who want to be there for the event, and if I say yes to one [media member], I'm not going to say no to another.

"It was funny, though. Everybody is sitting there, waiting for the phone to ring, and it doesn't. Then it would ring and it would be a friend, wanting to find out if I had heard anything. It turned out the announcement was delayed because Jane [Forbes Clark, Hall of Fame chairwoman] had flight problems and so the calls weren't made until an hour later [than planned]."

The call, however, did come.

"I almost passed out," he said.

And the celebration began.

"Some people would say it should have happened years earlier, but I just tell them, 'The longer you wait, the sweeter the moment.'"

Gossage understood the challenge he faced in being elected. He was a reliever from that era of bullpen transition, when teams started to focus on having a "closer" but the role was not as cut-and-dried as it is today.

"Now you have these guys like Mariano [Rivera] and Trevor [Hoffman], who are so dominant in the one-inning role and build up the save totals," said Gossage. "People forget how we used to do it. That was something the newer [Hall of Fame voters] had to understand."

Video: Gossage always closed the door

Gossage is 22nd on the all-time saves list with 310. Rivera is the all-time leader with 652. There is, however, a major difference in terms of the workload. Gossage, who was fourth on the all-time list at the time of his retirement, pitched two or more innings in 125 of his saves, including 24 times when he went three or more innings. Rivera worked two innings or more in 10 saves -- a career-longest 2 1/3-inning effort against the A's on Aug. 23, 1996, and two innings nine other times.

"That's not to say we were stronger or better when I pitched, but just pointing out how the role of the closer has changed over time," said Gossage. "Face it. Hitters, pitchers, the old numbers have been blown out of the water. Look at saves, look at home runs."

Prior to the American League addition of the designated hitter in 1973, there were only 33 players who had hit 300 career home runs or more. Today, there are 137 in the history of the game.

Gossage spent 22 seasons in the big leagues, playing for nine teams, tied for the second most of any Hall of Famer with Deacon White and Hoyt Wilhelm, two fewer teams than Dan Brouthers.

Seven of those seasons were spent with the Yankees, the most of any team.

And that, said Gossage, was special because "the Yankees were my dad's favorite team. It went back to living in Colorado. The Yankees were affiliated with the Denver Bears, so that brought them closer to him.

Video: Goose's Hall of Fame Speech

"And then I got a chance to become friends with my dad's idols. I remember getting to know Clete Boyer. I told him, 'You were my dad's favorite player.' He looked at me and said, 'You mean Kenny.' I told him, 'No, not your brother, you. You were the Yankee. He loved the Yankees and he loved your defense and the way you played the game.'"

And Gossage knows his dad would have loved getting to go to Cooperstown for the induction ceremonies.

"Going there is like being a 10-year-old kid going to Disneyland and never having to go home," he said. "To be inducted is something you can't comprehend. It is beyond your wildest dream."

It, however, was a dream his father shared with him when Gossage was growing up.

"He'd tell me, 'You are going to play in the big leagues someday,'" said Gossage. "He'd start talking about Mickey Mantle. I thought those guys were cartoon characters. It was beyond belief for me."

And now look at Gossage.

He's sharing a spot in Cooperstown with Mantle and the rest of the Hall of Famers.

Tracy Ringolsby is a columnist for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Yankees bring in 2 bullpen arms for Banuelos

NEW YORK -- The Yankees kicked off the new year with a transaction, acquiring right-hander David Carpenter and left-hander Chasen Shreve from the Braves in exchange for left-hander Manny Banuelos, who was once regarded as one of the team's brightest prospects.

It is a move that promises to bolster an ever-changing Yankees bullpen, with Carpenter projected to slide into a setup role in front of Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller, who are expected to compete this spring for the closer's role.

In effect, Carpenter could replace right-hander Shawn Kelley, who was traded to the Padres on Monday for Minor League pitcher Johnny Barbato. Shreve offers another lefty option to compete for a roster spot in the spring, joining a group that includes Justin Wilson, Jacob Lindgren and Tyler Webb.

Carpenter strikes out the side

CHC@ATL: Carpenter strikes out side in 8th inning

5/10/14: David Carpenter enters in relief in the top of the 8th inning and strikes out all three Cubs he faces in a dominant appearance

Carpenter, 29, was 6-4 with a 3.54 ERA in 65 appearances for Atlanta last season, finishing 14 games and recording three saves. In 61 innings, Carpenter permitted 61 hits while issuing 16 walks and recording 67 strikeouts, and is arbitration-eligible for the first time.

The 24-year-old Shreve got his first taste of big league action last July, sporting a 0.73 ERA in 15 appearances with Atlanta. He started the year at Double-A Mississippi and also pitched at Triple-A Gwinnett, going a combined 5-3 with a 2.67 ERA and nine saves in 46 appearances.

Shreve's first career strikeout

PHI@ATL: Shreve fans Howard in Major League debut

7/19/14: Making his Major League debut, Chasen Shreve gets Ryan Howard to go down on strikes

Banuelos, who turns 24 in March, was touted alongside Betances and former prospect Andrew Brackman as the Yankees' "Killer B" group of pitching talent, but his trajectory was derailed by Tommy John surgery that forced him to miss the entire 2013 season.

Last year, Banuelos returned to the mound and was 2-3 with a 4.11 ERA in 26 games (25 starts) for Class A Advanced Tampa, Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Making the majority of those appearances at the Double-A level, Banuelos struck out 71 and walked 31 in 76 2/3 innings.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Former NY governor Cuomo dies at 82, played in Minors

Mario Cuomo, the former governor of New York and an avid baseball fan, passed away on Thursday at the age of 82.

Cuomo was also a ballplayer, seeing time in 81 games with the Class-D Minor League Brunswick Pirates during the 1952 season.

A 20-year-old center fielder with the club, Cuomo hit .244 with a total of 62 hits, including one home run and 10 doubles.

Cuomo served as governor of New York from 1983 to 1994 and became known nationally for his ability to share his story of humble beginnings as a son of Italian immigrants.

While Cuomo dreamed of one day playing in the Majors, he knew it was a near impossible feat.

"I've gotten some things done [in my life]," Cuomo told MLB.com in 2007. "But I never thought of myself as a Major Leaguer, or good enough to be one. The first good player I watched as a kid was Joe DiMaggio, and that was like ballet. Since then, I played sandlot and college ball and came to understand how difficult it can be.

"Then you get some madman in the Minors throwing the ball 100 miles an hour and not knowing where it's going to wind up. And on one occasion it wound up in the back of my head. So, it didn't occur to me to ever be that good [in baseball]. God had other plans for me."

Quinn Roberts is a reporter for MLB.com This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Yankees' 2015 questions begin with rotation

There have been upgrades and additions along the way: Chase Headley flipped a two-month audition into a four-year, $52 million contract, Nathan Eovaldi and Didi Gregorius are now on the roster as young, promising players on the rise, and left-hander Andrew Miller provides a dominant arm for the bullpen.

The Yankees have brought back other members of the '14 club in left-hander Chris Capuano and outfielder Chris Young, while trading for left-hander Justin Wilson. They'll also have Alex Rodriguez back on the roster following his season-long suspension.

For what it's worth, the Yanks' Pythagorean win-loss record was calculated to be 77-85 in 2014, so manager Joe Girardi deserves credit for a job well done. Will it be enough to bring back a similar roster, or -- as some rival executives believe -- are the Yankees gearing up to make yet another a big winter splash?

Here are the Yankees' 10 biggest questions as they head into 2015:

10. Do they need to hold their breath with Tanaka?

Two September starts -- a good one against the Blue Jays and a clunker against the Red Sox -- comprises all of the information that the Yankees have about where Tanaka is after rehabbing his partially torn right ulnar collateral ligament. It is better than nothing, of course, and the Yankees were pleased that Tanaka was able to snap off a few splitters against big leaguers and return to Japan healthy.

2014 Year in Review

2015 Outlook

It's their hope that a few months of rest will permit Tanaka to recapture the form he showed in his first 17 starts of an All-Star season; if so, he should be the Yanks' ace. Chris Carpenter is a good example of a pitcher who continued to have success after a UCL tear, but the Yanks can't let their guard down. They know that any one pitch could be Tanaka's last of the year.

9. Can they count on CC Sabathia as a workhorse, and if not, who can be?

It's no secret that the Yankees worked Sabathia hard in his first four seasons, continuing to log miles after he was similarly pushed by the Indians and especially by the Brewers. Sabathia never complained; he loved having the ball in his palm, and he rewarded the Yanks with a World Series title and three All-Star selections.

Sabathia looking to bounce back

Sabathia confident he can bounce back in 2015

Matt Waymire and Jim Duquette discuss CC Sabathia's offseason efforts as the Yankees lefty looks to bounce back in 2015

That wear and tear has showed up over the last two years, as Sabathia posted a career-worst 4.78 ERA in 2013 and was limited to just eight starts in '14. Sabathia had arthroscopic surgery on his degenerative right knee in July and has been working out regularly at Yankee Stadium, saying that he feels close to 100 percent and wants to take on a full 32-start workload in '15.

The Yankees would welcome that, given the number of other pitching questions they have. In addition to Tanaka, Michael Pineda's Yankees time has been either dominant or disabled, and they won't have Ivan Nova back until at least May. Eovaldi and Capuano project to fill out the rest of the rotation.

8. Are the Yanks really out on Max Scherzer and company?

Which brings us to this point -- the rotation would look more solid with a name like Scherzer at the front, or even a pitcher like James Shields to muscle things up. Thus far, Yankees people are saying they have no interest in another big pitching deal after cutting big checks to Sabathia and Tanaka, and they never dipped in the Jon Lester pool. Even Brandon McCarthy's four-year, $48 million deal with the Dodgers was too rich for the Yanks' blood.

Still ... can you ever truly count the Yankees out for a big free agent? Agent Scott Boras dangled Scherzer in front of the Yanks' eyes at the Winter Meetings, opining that the Yanks need 50 wins and 600 innings from their top three pitchers to get where they want to be. Do they already have that?

7. Who should be the next closer?

It's difficult to believe, but the Yankees will be installing their fourth full-time closer in four years in 2015. Someone is going to follow Rafael Soriano (2012), Mariano Rivera (2013) and David Robertson (2014), and thus far it looks like Dellin Betances might be the best in-house fit.

Betances' milestone strikeout

NYY@TB: Betances sets Yankees' K mark for reliever

9/17/14: Dellin Betances strikes out Kevin Kiermaier to set the Yankees' franchise mark with 131 strikeouts by a reliever in a season

Betances was lights-out as an All-Star setup man in '14, shattering Rivera's 1996 franchise record for strikeouts by a reliever, fanning 135 men in 90 innings. He said that he would embrace the opportunity to close, as would Miller, who excelled last year for Boston and Baltimore and is tough on both lefties and righties.

The Yanks have other choices to help out, including Wilson, but Girardi would like to define roles by the end of the spring. Betances and Miller are the likeliest choices to scoop up the ninth inning, and club officials believe the next Yankees closer is already on this roster.

6. Which McCann will the Yankees have behind the plate?

When the All-Star balloting updates came out each week in 2014, McCann shook his head at the support he was receiving in the race for AL catcher -- not leading, mind you, but still within striking distance. Battling the Mendoza Line at the time, McCann said he didn't deserve to be on that list, and later called his first half "horrible."

McCann found a reset button of sorts at midseason and came back in a much better frame of mind, reaching base in 19 straight July games and slugging eight of his 23 homers in September. That's a lot closer to the frontline catcher that the Yankees thought they were getting, and they hope that McCann's adjustment period is completely in the rearview mirror as they go into the second year of a five-year contract together.

5. What'll be on the back of Mark Teixeira's baseball card?

It was only a few years ago that Teixeira would confidently speak about believing that the back of his baseball cards would have at least 30 homers and 100 RBIs by season's end. He hasn't made it there since 2011, and ongoing issues with his surgically repaired right wrist made that production impossible in 2014, when he posted a disappointing .216 batting average.

Pointing to the past performance of players like Jose Bautista and David Ortiz, both of whom bounced back from similar wrist ailments, Teixeira and the Yankees believe that better production will be on display in '15. Teixeira has acknowledged that he's on the back nine of his career, and repeating his terrific 2009 numbers is probably out of the question. The Yanks would be happy just to have him in the lineup regularly, hitting for power and providing Gold Glove Award-caliber defense.

4. Will the "real" Beltran show up?

Remember the offseason of 2004-05? The Yankees were still reeling from watching the Red Sox reverse the curse when Beltran shook hands with George Steinbrenner in Tampa, Fla., telling The Boss he wanted to be a Yankee. Steinbrenner liked Beltran, but he wanted pitching (Randy Johnson, Carl Pavano and Jaret Wright) more. Besides, the Yanks already had Bernie Williams in center field.

So Beltran had an up-and-down marriage with the Mets and finally slugged his way to a World Series appearance with the Cardinals in 2013, setting up an opportunity to wear the pinstripes he coveted. The 37-year-old's body didn't cooperate with that nice storyline, and now the Yankees expect Beltran will return from right elbow surgery to be the everyday right fielder they envisioned. If not, the DH role will be crowded.

3. Time to have youthful "second" thoughts?

Headley's four-year, $52 million contract to play third base didn't only solidify A-Rod as a full-time DH going forward, it also freed Martin Prado from being the starting third baseman. Prado did play 17 games at second base for the Yanks in 2014 and looked sharp there, but the club chose to flip him to the Marlins in a five-player deal on Dec. 19.

Headley on re-signing with Yanks

Headley pleased to rejoin Yankees on four-year deal

Chase Headley discusses his new four-year contract with the Yankees and why he thinks the team will compete for the playoffs in 2015

That opens the door for a look at young prospects Rob Refsnyder and Jose Pirela, who are still in line to compete for roster spots during the spring. Both players performed well enough to be on the radar last year, and Pirela even got a cup of coffee in September. The Yankees want to give a good look to Refsnyder in particular, who posted a .300/.389/.456 split line last year at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

2. How will Gregorius handle following Derek Jeter?

Gregorius said all the right things after his trade to the Yankees, mentioning how he'd always wanted to play in New York and watch Jeter play; now, he gets to follow in his footsteps and take over as the everyday shortstop. In Gregorius, the Yanks feel that they have a young (25) and athletic performer to solidify the middle of the infield, and Gregorius' defensive range up the middle should make the pitching staff happy.

There are legitimate questions about his bat, and though the Yanks believe there is more in the tank, they still plan to have Gregorius platoon with Brendan Ryan to begin the year. Gregorius has hit just .184 in 163 career at-bats vs. lefties, though he seems eager to take on that challenge in the future.

Girardi wants Didi to be himself

Girardi believes Gregorius will blossom in New York

Joe Girardi likes the addition of Didi Gregorius and hopes he plays his brand of baseball without worrying about replacing Derek Jeter

1. A-Rod is back -- now what?

The final out of the World Series reinstated Rodriguez to the active roster, and it's only a few short weeks before the satellite trucks park at the Himes Avenue Minor League complex in hopes of recording every practice grounder hit in Rodriguez's direction. With A-Rod coming off a season-long suspension, having played just 44 games in the last two years and turning 40 in July on a pair of repaired hips, Cashman said that the Yankees could get "every color on the rainbow" from the veteran.

There is no urgency to push him back into duty as an everyday third baseman because of the Headley signing, but it would be helpful if he's capable of backup duty there. Rodriguez and Girardi plan to talk about some first-base reps in the spring, but from the sounds of everything right now, the Yankees are fine with the idea of Rodriguez as their full-time designated hitter in 2015.

Girardi on Yankees' health

Girardi on health of rotation, A-Rod playing first

Joe Girardi discusses the health of his rotation, the possibility of Alex Rodriguez playing first base and the roles his relievers will have

Only a full spring will determine what to expect of Rodriguez's bat speed and health, but the Yanks have little doubt that he'll arrive in his best possible condition. That's never been an issue with him. Even in those last weeks of 2013, when Rodriguez was nowhere near his MVP-level production, he managed to post a .771 OPS in 156 at-bats. That's a number that would have been quite welcome in the '14 Yankees lineup.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Gossage still savors memory of Hall of Fame's call

"There had been some urgency when I first became eligible," Gossage said. "After I got out of baseball and people started to talk about the Hall of Fame, my mom said, 'I hope I'm still around if you do go into the Hall of Fame.'"

Susanne Gossage died two years prior to her son's 2008 induction in Cooperstown.

She'd been his strength ever since his father, Jack, passed away during Rich Gossage's junior year in high school.

"She was my biggest fan," he said, "and during those early years, there was some frustration.

"When she died there wasn't that sense of urgency. It was more about waiting for the opportunity. Baseball taught me not to worry about what I couldn't control. I didn't have a vote, so I had no control."

And when that call finally came?

"Well, the plan was to have a quiet day at home," he said. "But the next thing I know there's different people who want to be there for the event, and if I say yes to one [media member], I'm not going to say no to another.

"It was funny, though. Everybody is sitting there, waiting for the phone to ring, and it doesn't. Then it would ring and it would be a friend, wanting to find out if I had heard anything. It turned out the announcement was delayed because Jane [Forbes Clark, Hall of Fame chairwoman] had flight problems and so the calls weren't made until an hour later [than planned]."

The call, however, did come.

"I almost passed out," he said.

And the celebration began.

"Some people would say it should have happened years earlier, but I just tell them, 'The longer you wait, the sweeter the moment.'"

Gossage understood the challenge he faced in being elected. He was a reliever from that era of bullpen transition, when teams started to focus on having a "closer" but the role was not as cut-and-dried as it is today.

"Now you have these guys like Mariano [Rivera] and Trevor [Hoffman], who are so dominant in the one-inning role and build up the save totals," said Gossage. "People forget how we used to do it. That was something the newer [Hall of Fame voters] had to understand."

Video: Gossage always closed the door

Gossage is 22nd on the all-time saves list with 310. Rivera is the all-time leader with 652. There is, however, a major difference in terms of the workload. Gossage, who was fourth on the all-time list at the time of his retirement, pitched two or more innings in 125 of his saves, including 24 times when he went three or more innings. Rivera worked two innings or more in 10 saves -- a career-longest 2 1/3-inning effort against the A's on Aug. 23, 1996, and two innings nine other times.

"That's not to say we were stronger or better when I pitched, but just pointing out how the role of the closer has changed over time," said Gossage. "Face it. Hitters, pitchers, the old numbers have been blown out of the water. Look at saves, look at home runs."

Prior to the American League addition of the designated hitter in 1973, there were only 33 players who had hit 300 career home runs or more. Today, there are 137 in the history of the game.

Gossage spent 22 seasons in the big leagues, playing for nine teams, tied for the second most of any Hall of Famer with Deacon White and Hoyt Wilhelm, two fewer teams than Dan Brouthers.

Seven of those seasons were spent with the Yankees, the most of any team.

And that, said Gossage, was special because "the Yankees were my dad's favorite team. It went back to living in Colorado. The Yankees were affiliated with the Denver Bears, so that brought them closer to him.

Video: Goose's Hall of Fame Speech

"And then I got a chance to become friends with my dad's idols. I remember getting to know Clete Boyer. I told him, 'You were my dad's favorite player.' He looked at me and said, 'You mean Kenny.' I told him, 'No, not your brother, you. You were the Yankee. He loved the Yankees and he loved your defense and the way you played the game.'"

And Gossage knows his dad would have loved getting to go to Cooperstown for the induction ceremonies.

"Going there is like being a 10-year-old kid going to Disneyland and never having to go home," he said. "To be inducted is something you can't comprehend. It is beyond your wildest dream."

It, however, was a dream his father shared with him when Gossage was growing up.

"He'd tell me, 'You are going to play in the big leagues someday,'" said Gossage. "He'd start talking about Mickey Mantle. I thought those guys were cartoon characters. It was beyond belief for me."

And now look at Gossage.

He's sharing a spot in Cooperstown with Mantle and the rest of the Hall of Famers.

Tracy Ringolsby is a columnist for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Yankees bring in 2 bullpen arms for Banuelos

NEW YORK -- The Yankees kicked off the new year with a transaction, acquiring right-hander David Carpenter and left-hander Chasen Shreve from the Braves in exchange for left-hander Manny Banuelos, who was once regarded as one of the team's brightest prospects.

It is a move that promises to bolster an ever-changing Yankees bullpen, with Carpenter projected to slide into a setup role in front of Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller, who are expected to compete this spring for the closer's role.

In effect, Carpenter could replace right-hander Shawn Kelley, who was traded to the Padres on Monday for Minor League pitcher Johnny Barbato. Shreve offers another lefty option to compete for a roster spot in the spring, joining a group that includes Justin Wilson, Jacob Lindgren and Tyler Webb.

Carpenter strikes out the side

CHC@ATL: Carpenter strikes out side in 8th inning

5/10/14: David Carpenter enters in relief in the top of the 8th inning and strikes out all three Cubs he faces in a dominant appearance

Carpenter, 29, was 6-4 with a 3.54 ERA in 65 appearances for Atlanta last season, finishing 14 games and recording three saves. In 61 innings, Carpenter permitted 61 hits while issuing 16 walks and recording 67 strikeouts, and is arbitration-eligible for the first time.

The 24-year-old Shreve got his first taste of big league action last July, sporting a 0.73 ERA in 15 appearances with Atlanta. He started the year at Double-A Mississippi and also pitched at Triple-A Gwinnett, going a combined 5-3 with a 2.67 ERA and nine saves in 46 appearances.

Shreve's first career strikeout

PHI@ATL: Shreve fans Howard in Major League debut

7/19/14: Making his Major League debut, Chasen Shreve gets Ryan Howard to go down on strikes

Banuelos, who turns 24 in March, was touted alongside Betances and former prospect Andrew Brackman as the Yankees' "Killer B" group of pitching talent, but his trajectory was derailed by Tommy John surgery that forced him to miss the entire 2013 season.

Last year, Banuelos returned to the mound and was 2-3 with a 4.11 ERA in 26 games (25 starts) for Class A Advanced Tampa, Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Making the majority of those appearances at the Double-A level, Banuelos struck out 71 and walked 31 in 76 2/3 innings.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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